Shepherd University employee accused of domestic battery

Director of Public Safety Grover Boyer placed on sick leave after incident

Director of Public Safety Grover Boyer placed on sick leave after incident

January 24, 2008|By DAVE McMILLION and MATTHEW UMSTEAD

SHEPHERDSTOWN ? An attorney for Shepherd University said Thursday that the school's Director of Public Safety, who was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery after an altercation with his wife, is still employed at the Jefferson County institution.

Alan Perdue said Thursday that Grover Boyer, 61, of 2202 Whitings Neck Road in Berkeley County, was placed on sick leave after the incident Jan. 6.

"He initiated that," Perdue said of the sick leave.

Perdue said he could not go into detail, but did say he is staying in contact with Boyer as the situation develops.

Boyer remains employed by the school, Perdue said.

According to a complaint filed by West Virginia State Police Trooper M.D. Gillmore, Boyer's wife told the officer that the altercation between the couple began about 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6, when she smelled an alcoholic odor coming from her husband and believed he was intoxicated.

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"She told Mr. Boyer that they should separate and go their different ways, and with that Mr. Boyer began to follow her around the house yelling and swearing at her," Gillmore said in his complaint

After she threw a glass of water on him, the woman and her 15-year-old son, Boyer's stepson, told the officer that the man grabbed her by the hair and began forcing her down before the boy intervened. Boyer said her husband then grabbed her by the arm and the officer noted in his complaint that the woman had "several five- to six-inch scratch marks" on her arms.

Boyer's wife told the officer that she later left the house with some clothes with her 15-year-old son, who told police he witnessed the fight, according to Gillmore's complaint.

Boyer was released on a $2,500 personal recognizance bond and no preliminary hearing had been set as of Thursday afternoon.

For about 20 years, Boyer has overseen the eight-officer police department at Shepherd University, Perdue said.